 |
Mimi Dobbs
|
Cross-Cultural Communicator
Mimi Dobbs
June 2008
Mimi Dobbs has always been one to buck tradition. The principal
information systems engineer in MITRE's Center for Advanced Aviation
System Development (CAASD) grew up in Korea, where, she says, females
"are brought up with limitations; it's a very rule-based culture.
But my parents always told me 'you can do what you want to do.'"
Dobbs took her parents' advice to heart. After graduating with
an art degree from Korea's most prominent college, Seoul National
University, she earned an MBA in marketing from George Washington
University. "Everyone said I couldn't earn an MBA with my art background,"
she says. "But I did my research and was determined to study in
the U.S."
She came to MITRE in 1999, after working for ARINC's Asia-Pacific
region to cultivate airport, airline, and ATC business. While at
ARINC, she met C.C. Hsin, who is now director both of our International/Asia-Pacific
aviation work area and the MITRE Aviation Institute. Today, Dobbs
is a program director for MITRE's aviation work in the Asia-Pacific
division—which includes Korea, Singapore, Thailand, India,
and Malaysia. In this role, she cultivates partnerships, negotiates
contracts, and manages projects to redesign and modernize the airport,
airspace, and air traffic management systems and procedures in these
booming international aviation markets.
"I like the nature of international work. It's fluid and fast-paced,"
she says. "The challenge is, when an overseas customer calls—no
matter what time—you need to be there."
Breaking New Ground
Dobbs most recently helped forge a collaborative partnership between
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Airports Authority
of India (AAI), which kicked off at the U.S.-India Aviation Partnership
Summit last spring in New Delhi. After the summit, the AAI signed
an agreement with MITRE's CAASD to begin to restructure the country's
burgeoning airspace and deploy the new RNAV/RNP procedures.
The contract involved airspace analysis and training AAI managers
to assess airport capacity, increase airspace efficiency, reduce
environmental impact, and develop navigation procedures to support
these goals. The agreement was the first sole source contract India
awarded to a private company in aviation, largely due to MITRE's
unique Terminal Area Route Generation, Evaluation, and Traffic Software
(TARGETS). MITRE developed this software tool used by the FAA for
air traffic planning and assessment. She and Hsin negotiated the
historic contract.
"Gaining a cultural and political understanding before getting
started helped us move forward," says Dobbs, who began talking with
Indian aviation officials in the 1990s.
She also helped make Korea's Incheon International Airport (IIAC)
a reality. "I have worked on the project for eight years as the
MITRE team lead," she says. "It was a complex project that involved
cutting out mountains, building bridges, reclaiming sea, deploying
one of the world's most advanced integrated airport information
and communications management systems, and navigating the country's
political system." She is proud that she played a role in this historic
undertaking. "I took my kids to the airport when it opened and said
'this is the airport mom helped build.'" In January 2008, Global
Traveler named IIAC the Best Airport in the World for the third
year in a row.
Dobbs' capacity for cultural interpretation and ability to see
the big picture are assets during delicate cross-cultural negotiations.
"I think my marketing background, ability to communicate across
cultures, and unique perspective all add value to our team."
Motivated and Flexible
Dobbs credits her father for her entrepreneurial spirit and work
ethic. "My dad came from very humble beginnings," she says. "He
was an orphan and didn't finish elementary school. But he always
had big dreams." Despite his early hardships, Dobbs' father became
a successful business owner. "He built a chicken empire—and
ultimately became known as the 'father of chicken in Korea.'"
With her dad as a mentor, Dobbs says, "I can't be mediocre at anything!"
That drive to excel is one of the things she appreciates about MITRE's
culture.
"MITRE is a place of integrity," she says. "My colleagues have
incomparable technical ability. Everyone is humble, yet everyone
is a star in his or her own right." She also likes the fact that
MITRE is a "solution provider" and is willing to address difficult,
large-scale problems.
Dobbs' work even helped her discover a new hobby: yoga. She took
it up nine years ago to help "ease the aches and pains from flying."
Now a once-weekly activity, it helps keep her centered. And she
still loves to travel—for business and pleasure. Her parents
are in Korea, so she tries to visit as often as possible.
With three children and a portfolio of international customers,
Dobbs doesn't have much time to spare. But in a rare moment of downtime,
you might catch her dancing. "I've taken flamenco lessons, and I
enjoy salsa dancing, too."
—by Karina H. Wright
Related Information
Articles and News
Technical Papers and Presentations
Websites
|
